News and Events

College again wins SPJ Sweepstakes Award

(April 8, 2003) UF students took 17 first place awards in the regional Mark of Excellence contest sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists, Professor David Carlson announced. The awards were announced Saturday in Atlanta. The college again won the Sweepstakes Award for garnering the most points in the contest. UF has won that award eight of the last nine years.

The regional contest includes colleges and universities in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi and the eastern half of Tennessee. The first-place winners go on to the national contest, and those winners will be announced at the SPJ national convention in Tampa next September.

The college's radio and television students virtually swept the contest in their categories.

The UF winners are:

NEWSPAPERS

Editorial Writing
Honorable Mention: Sarah Myrick, Joe Black, Ryan Kent and Mark Ward
University of Florida/The Independent Florida Alligator

Spot News Reporting
2nd: Staci Zavattaro
University of Florida/The Independent Florida Alligator

3rd: Tracy Swartz
University of Florida/The Palm Beach Post

In-Depth Reporting
3rd: Tracy Swartz
University of Florida/Roll Call Daily

Feature Writing
1st: Staci Zavattaro
University of Florida/The Independent Florida Alligator

Sports Writing
Honorable Mention: Seth Traub
University of Florida/The Independent Florida Alligator

MAGAZINE

Non-Fiction Article
1st: Rachel Goldberg
University of Florida/Orange & Blue Magazine

3rd: Jason Backlund
University of Florida/Orange & Blue Magazine

Best Student Magazine (more than once a year)
1st: Orange & Blue
David Schipper, editor-in-chief
University of Florida

RADIO

Radio Spot News Reporting
1st: Matt Mauro
University of Florida/WRUF Radio
"White Power Rally"

Radio Feature
1st: Grayson Kamm
University of Florida/WRUF Radio
"Follow the Water"

Honorable Mention: Ben Klein
University of Florida/WUFT–FM
"Inmate Work Farm"

Radio In-Depth Reporting
1st: Erich Spivey
University of Florida/WRUF Radio
"Helping the Homeless"

2nd: Paul Milliken
University of Florida/WRUF Radio
"Gay Adoptions"

Honorable Mention: Bret Brillante
University of Florida/WUFT-FM
"Dangers of Online Gambling"

Honorable Mention: Racquel Hessing
University of Florida/WUFT-FM
"Dairy Farm"

Radio Sports Reporting
1st: Scott Lea
University of Florida/WUFT-FM
"Gator Nationals"

2nd (tie): Mandy Mitchell
University of Florida/WRUF Radio
"Out of Control Parents"

2nd (tie): Erin Gell
University of Florida/WRUF Radio
"Title 9"

3rd: Ben Klein
University of Florida/WUFT-FM
"Florida-Tennessee Rivalry"

Radio Daily Newscast
1st: Staff
University of Florida/WRUF Radio
"Front Page on Air"

TELEVISION

TV Spot News Reporting
1st: Lisa Whitlow
University of Florida/WUFT-TV News 5
"Grand Jury"

TV General News Reporting
1st: Beau Zimmer
University of Florida/WUFT-TV News 5
"Video Games"

TV Feature
1st: Tiffany Griffith
University of Florida/WUFT-TV News 5
"Lymphedema"

TV Sports Reporting
1st: Mandy Clodfelter Mitchell
University of Florida/WUFT-TV News 5
"Rivalry"

TV News Photography
2nd: Erich Spivey
University of Florida/WUFT-TV News 5
"Party Patrol"

TV Daily Newscast
1st: News 5 Students
University of Florida/WUFT-TV News 5
"News 5 at 5:30"

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